Thanks to those of you who were able to join us for yesterday’s Organizational Resilience/Financial Stability webinar. If you were not able to attend, we have shared a recording of it, along with other resources, on our new Organizational Resilience/Financial Stability webpage. In the weeks and months to come, you will find status reports and regular updates about cost-savings and revenue-growth measures. Also, this site will soon have an FAQ section to address many of the questions we have received.
We want to hear from you, so we have created an online Feedback and Recommendation Forum. Given what you learned yesterday (or will learn from watching the webinar recording), I encourage you to use the discussion board to share your ideas and recommendations for how we ensure a financially sound and thriving CSU going forward.
I recognize the significance of the challenges ahead. A substantial budget deficit can be unsettling, particularly when it is aligned with sobering future student enrollment projections, but we now have an opportunity to step forward as leaders in shaping the future of higher education in our region. The path ahead will require tremendous focus, dedication, innovation and renewed commitment to our mission.
As a young professional, when I was grappling with a problem that seemed particularly challenging, my father would share with me his favorite Henry Ford quote. It has continued to inspire me to this day to seek innovation in the face of challenge: “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”
As always, your partnership in this work is essential. Because of the collective efforts of this remarkable campus community, Cleveland State University has long stood as a proud beacon of opportunity for current and future students; we have long served as a steady economic and civic anchor for the City of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.
Together, let’s chart a future where we will continue to prosper and thrive in service to our mission.
